Youth Scene: Yankees win ninth straight game

Pitchers Daniel Kotkosky and Gavin Kells combined to allow just one run Saturday and the Yankees defeated the A’s, 6-1, in Ocean View Little League Major Division action.

The win — their ninth straight, kept the Yankees (9-1) one game in front of the Red Sox (8-2) in the division standings. The Yankees’ pitching and defense has allowed the fewest runs (27) in the league followed by the Dodgers (39).

Saturday’s performance was no exception to the Yankees’ pitching dominance. Kotkosky started and struck out eight in four innings. At one point, he struck out seven consecutive batters. Kells, too, proved too much for the A’s (1-9). He relieved Kotkosky in the fifth and struck out five in two innings.

Yankees pitching has been back by standout defensive play throughout the season. Such was the case Saturday. With runner on second with one out in the fifth and the Yankees holding a 4-1 lead, the A’s Matt Thien hit a hard, high chopper in the hole between Kotkosky at shortstop and Van Harmon at third base that that appeared to be headed for a sure single into left field. Kotkosky, however, intercepted the ball before it could roll to the left fielder and threw a perfect throw to Harmon who tagged out a sliding Jack Smith for a force out at third.

Kotkosky distinguished himself at the plate too. He got two hits and scored twice. Jake Alvarez and Kota Nakamura both had a pair of hits, and Kells, Andrew Bentley, Dominic Riola and Sam Shuart-Janes each also added a hit.

Smith, Sebastian Aparicio, Kyle Donoho, Luke Walpole and Carson Jones had hits for the A’s.

— Reader submission